Cornering Techniques for Racing Drivers: Sarah Moore’s Expert Guide

Mastering cornering is the single most important skill for any racing driver. A perfect corner can gain you multiple positions, while a mistake can lose you valuable time and positions. Professional racing driver and ARDS A grade instructor Sarah Moore teaches these techniques through her racing coaching programs to drivers at all levels, from young karting prospects to experienced racers.

This guide breaks down the core components: precise braking approach, apex targeting, smooth steering, vision focus, and data analysis. These are actionable skills you can practice on track to immediately improve your lap times and consistency.

Essential Cornering Techniques for Racing Drivers

Cornering is not a single action but a sequence of precise, linked movements. The fastest drivers make these movements look effortless, but each step is a practiced skill. The goal is to carry the highest possible speed through the corner while setting up for a strong exit onto the next straight.

Sarah Moore’s coaching breaks this sequence into four critical phases: the braking approach, turn-in and apex, steering through the corner, and power application on exit. Mastering each phase individually and then linking them seamlessly is what separates good drivers from great ones. This section details the exact techniques for each phase, based on established racing principles.

Braking Points and Approach: Outer Edge, Heavy Initial Braking

The braking phase sets the entire corner up for success or failure. The correct technique is a specific, repeatable process.

1. Approach from the outer edge: Before you even brake, position your car on the far outside of the track. This gives you the largest possible turning radius to work with, allowing a later turn-in point.
2. Apply heavy initial braking: Brake in a straight line with maximum, controlled force—known as threshold braking. This reduces speed as efficiently as possible before the car’s weight shifts during the turn.
3. Gradually release brake pressure as you turn in: As you begin to steer, smoothly and progressively reduce brake pressure. This is the trail braking technique, a critical element of trail braking and threshold braking. It helps balance the car and can allow you to carry more speed into the corner by using the front tires’ remaining grip for both turning and slowing.
4. Transition to throttle: Once you have passed the apex and the car is pointed at the exit, smoothly apply the throttle. The exact point of this transition depends on the corner and car.

1. Approach from the outer edge: Before you even brake, position your car on the far outside of the track. This gives you the largest possible turning radius to work with, allowing a later turn-in point.
2. Apply heavy initial braking: Brake in a straight line with maximum, controlled force—known as threshold braking. This reduces speed as efficiently as possible before the car’s weight shifts during the turn.
3. Gradually release brake pressure as you turn in: As you begin to steer, smoothly and progressively reduce brake pressure. This is the trail braking technique. It helps balance the car and can allow you to carry more speed into the corner by using the front tires’ remaining grip for both turning and slowing.
4. Transition to throttle: Once you have passed the apex and the car is pointed at the exit, smoothly apply the throttle. The exact point of this transition depends on the corner and car.

This sequence optimizes both speed and stability. Heavy initial braking in a straight line is most efficient.

Trail braking during turn-in can improve front-end grip and help rotate the car, but it requires finesse to avoid locking the wheels or losing rear traction. The key is a smooth, progressive release of the brake pedal.

Apex Identification: Targeting the Innermost Point to Minimize Radius

The apex is the innermost point of the corner you aim for. Its location is not fixed; you choose it based on the corner type and your goal. A classic “racing” or “early” apex is taken early in the corner, which gives a tighter radius but a longer, slower exit.

A “late” apex is taken later, resulting in a wider, faster radius through the corner and a better, earlier acceleration onto the straight. For most high-speed corners, a late apex is faster.

Targeting the correct apex minimizes the effective cornering radius. A smaller radius means you travel a shorter distance through the corner at a higher average speed. Your apex choice directly determines your turn-in point, your clip point, and your exit point.

On blind corners, you must use reference points like a braking marker or a trackside object to judge your turn-in, trusting the track will appear. Double-apex corners (like a chicane) require two distinct apex points. The rule is simple: the apex you choose defines the entire corner’s path.

Steering Precision and Exit Acceleration: Smoothness for Early Throttle

Steering inputs must be smooth, deliberate, and minimal. Jerky or aggressive steering unsettles the car’s balance, causing weight transfer that can lead to understeer or oversteer. The principles are:

• Smooth inputs: Turn the wheel progressively, not in sharp movements. Think of “unwinding” the steering as you exit.
• Avoid jerky movements: Any correction mid-corner is a mistake that costs time. A smooth input from the start eliminates the need for corrections.
• Precise hand placement: Use the “9 and 3” or “10 and 2” hand positions on the wheel for optimal leverage and control, making small, precise adjustments.
• Minimal steering angle: The goal is to use the least amount of steering lock possible to get the car around the corner. This reduces scrub and tire wear.

Smooth steering keeps the car stable and balanced. A stable car can accept throttle input much earlier in the corner. Applying power smoothly as you unwind the steering prevents wheelspin and pushes you strongly onto the next straight.

Earlier, smoother throttle application directly translates to higher exit speeds and faster lap times. This is where the time is made: a car that is stable and pointed at the exit can accelerate hard and early.

Vision and Data Analysis: Looking Ahead and Using Telemetry

Two critical, complementary tools for cornering mastery are your vision and data analysis. One is real-time, the other is for post-session refinement.

Aspect	Vision Technique	Data Analysis
Primary Focus	Look far ahead, through the corner to the exit point.	Review telemetry data (speed, brake pressure, throttle, steering angle) after the session.
Implementation Method	Train your eyes to “look up” and focus on the track ahead, not immediately in front of the car.	Use data loggers and video analysis software to compare laps and identify precise moments of gain or loss.
Key Benefit	Anticipates the track layout, allows for earlier turn-in, and improves car placement.	Reveals subtle improvements in braking and throttle application that are impossible to feel, showing exactly where time is gained or lost.
Common Mistake	Focusing on the front bumper or the immediate apex, which causes late turn-in and a “tunnel vision” effect.	Ignoring data or only looking at lap times, missing the specific technique that caused a time gain.

Vision is your real-time guide. By looking through the corner to your exit point, your hands and feet will naturally guide the car to that point. This is often called “target fixation.” Data analysis is your objective coach.

It shows you the precise millisecond when you started braking, how quickly you released the brake, and when you applied throttle. Sarah Moore emphasizes that utilizing data to improve braking and throttle finesse is crucial for drivers stepping up to faster, more demanding machinery. The two work together: vision builds the instinct, data refines the instinct into a precise, repeatable skill.

What is Sarah Moore’s Coaching Methodology?

Sarah Moore’s approach to teaching cornering is built on her unique background as a pioneering female driver and a certified top-tier instructor. Her methodology combines proven technical breakdowns with a supportive, data-informed environment, particularly through her work with the More Than Equal programme, and provides a framework for how to select a racing driver coach for your career.

She doesn’t just tell drivers to “be smoother”; she gives them the specific “what, when, and why” for every action, supported by her own extensive racing experience and formal instructor certification. This section explains the framework behind her coaching.

More Than Equal Programme: Elevating Young Female Talent

The More Than Equal Driver Development Programme is a dedicated initiative to support and accelerate the careers of young female racers. Sarah Moore was announced as one of the programme’s official driver coaches in February 2024 (Motorsport Week, 2024). The programme’s mission is to provide the structured support—technical, physical, and mental—that is often missing for women progressing in motorsport.

Moore’s role focuses on high-performance driving techniques. She teaches the essential cornering skills—precise braking, apex targeting, smooth throttle application—to drivers who are making the critical jump from karting into formula cars. Her coaching provides a clear technical pathway, helping these drivers build a robust skill set from the very beginning of their car racing careers.

ARDS A Grade Certification: Professional Instruction Standards

The ARDS (Association of Racing Driver Schools) A Grade is the highest level of racing instruction certification in the UK. Achieving it requires extensive documented racing experience, a rigorous assessment of teaching ability, and a deep understanding of vehicle dynamics and safety. For a driver, choosing an ARDS A Grade instructor guarantees a standardized, high-quality coaching experience that meets the industry’s strictest benchmarks.

Sarah Moore holds this specific qualification as an A-level driving instructor (ARDS Grade A). This means her coaching adheres to a nationally recognized standard of excellence, ensuring that the techniques she teaches are not only effective but also grounded in the safest and most current best practices for driver development.

Coaching Experience: 18-25 Years in Motorsport

Sarah Moore’s coaching is informed by an extraordinary depth of personal racing experience. Different sources cite her experience differently: her official About page states she has competed in motorsport for 18 years, while Motorsport Week (Feb 2024) reports she boasts 25 years of experience in racing. Both figures point to a lifelong immersion in the sport, having begun karting at age 4.

This experience spans the entire driver development pathway: she was the first female to win the Ginetta Junior Championship (2009), won the Britcar Endurance Championship (2018), and competed in the inaugural season of the W Series (2019). This firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed at each stage—from a child’s first kart to a professional endurance or single-seater race—allows her to diagnose issues and prescribe solutions that are proven and practical. She has lived the progression she teaches.

Services: Private Coaching, Open Track Events, and Supercar Experiences

Sarah Moore offers a range of coaching services tailored to different driver needs and goals:

• Private one-on-one coaching: Intensive, personalized sessions focused on individual driver development, exemplifying personalized racing coaching. This is for serious racers looking to refine specific skills or for enthusiasts wanting dedicated attention.
• Open Track Events (Track Days): Coaching integrated into organized track day sessions. This provides a more affordable entry point to receive professional feedback in a less pressured environment.
• Supercar Driving Experience days: Coaching for individuals or groups in high-performance road cars. This focuses on vehicle control, safety, and understanding the limits of a road-legal car, which are foundational skills for any racing driver.
• Karting coaching for youngsters: Instruction for the youngest drivers, focusing on the fundamental skills of racing lines, braking, and car control in a safe, accessible environment. This is the critical first step for many future racers.

• Private one-on-one coaching: Intensive, personalized sessions focused on individual driver development. This is for serious racers looking to refine specific skills or for enthusiasts wanting dedicated attention.
• Open Track Events (Track Days): Coaching integrated into organized track day sessions. This provides a more affordable entry point to receive professional feedback in a less pressured environment.
• Supercar Driving Experience days: Coaching for individuals or groups in high-performance road cars. This focuses on vehicle control, safety, and understanding the limits of a road-legal car, which are foundational skills for any racing driver.
• Karting coaching for youngsters: Instruction for the youngest drivers, focusing on the fundamental skills of racing lines, braking, and car control in a safe, accessible environment. This is the critical first step for many future racers.

This spectrum means whether you are a complete beginner in a supercar or an aspiring young racer in a kart, Sarah Moore’s racing coaching structure has a program to help you improve your cornering and overall driving skill.

Developing Your Cornering Skills: Data-Driven Practice and Progression

Knowing the theory is only the first step. Developing true cornering mastery requires structured practice, objective feedback, and a clear progression plan. Sarah Moore’s methodology emphasizes moving beyond the “feel” of driving to a measurable, data-informed approach.

This allows drivers to understand exactly where they are losing time and track their improvement over time. It also creates a logical pathway from basic skills in a slow car to advanced techniques in a fast one. This section outlines how to practice effectively, use technology to your advantage, and progress through the racing ladder with a solid technical foundation.

Telemetry and Video Analysis: Beyond ‘Drive Faster’

Traditional coaching often relies on the instructor’s observation and the driver’s subjective “feel.” While valuable, this method has limits. Data-driven coaching uses objective measurement to remove guesswork.

Aspect	Traditional Approach	Data-Driven Approach	Sarah Moore’s Integration
Feedback Source	Instructor’s eye and verbal notes.	Telemetry logs (speed, brake pressure, throttle, G-forces) and onboard video.	Combines real-time instructor observation with post-session data review to pinpoint exact moments of gain or loss.
Improvement Focus	General advice: “brake earlier,” “be smoother.”	Specific metrics: “brake 5 meters later at Turn 3,” “throttle application is 0.3 seconds smoother on exit.”	Uses data to set precise, measurable targets for the next session, turning vague goals into concrete actions.
Limitation	Driver may not feel the subtle difference being asked for; progress is hard to measure.	Can be overwhelming with too much data; requires interpretation.	Focuses on the most relevant data channels for cornering (brake pressure ramp, throttle smoothness, cornering speed) to avoid overload.

Data reveals what the human eye cannot. A driver might feel they are braking at the same point each lap, but telemetry can show variations of a meter or more in braking distance. It can show the exact shape of the brake pressure application—is it a smooth, linear release or a choppy, hesitant one?

These subtle differences in braking and throttle finesse are what separate lap records from merely fast laps. For a driver stepping up to a faster, more powerful car, this finesse becomes even more critical, as small inputs have larger effects. Sarah Moore integrates this data into her coaching to provide that level of precise, actionable feedback.

Progressive Training Pathway: Karting to Ginetta to W Series

Cornering skill development follows a logical progression, with each stage building on the last. Sarah Moore’s own career provides a perfect model of this pathway.

1. Karting Fundamentals: The starting point. Focus is on basic car control, understanding the racing line, and developing the muscle memory for smooth steering and braking. The goal is consistency and precision at low speeds.
2. Transition to Formula Cars (e.g., Ginetta Junior): Here, drivers add complexity. They learn to manage aerodynamic downforce (in some cars), deal with more weight transfer under braking, and start incorporating basic data analysis. Cornering speeds are higher, and the margin for error is smaller. The core techniques from karting are applied with more finesse.
3. Higher Series (e.g., W Series, Britcar): At this professional level, drivers refine every micro-second. Data analysis becomes central. They work on optimizing brake bias, fine-tuning suspension setups for different corners, and executing perfect race starts and restarts. The ability to link a series of high-quality corners consistently over a race distance is paramount.

Sarah Moore’s journey—starting in karting at age 4, becoming the first female Ginetta Junior Champion (2009), winning the Britcar Endurance Championship (2018), and competing in the W Series (2019)—mirrors this exact progression. Her coaching is designed to guide drivers along this same path, ensuring they master the cornering fundamentals required at each step before moving to the next, more challenging level.

Practice Drills: Braking, Throttle Control, and Vision Exercises

To improve cornering, drivers need focused, repetitive drills that isolate specific skills. Here are actionable exercises to practice on your next track day, after consulting a first track day checklist for essential preparation:

• Braking Point Consistency Drill: Choose a fixed reference point on track (a brake marker, a crack in the pavement, a specific tree). Your goal is to hit the brakes at that exact point on every single lap. Use a datalogger or have an instructor watch. Start slowly and prioritize consistency over speed. Once you can hit the point reliably 10 times in a row, begin to move the point slightly later down the straight.
• Throttle Control Exercise: On a long, sweeping corner exit, focus entirely on the smoothness of your throttle application. Aim to apply power in a perfectly linear fashion, without any sudden surges that cause wheelspin. Listen to the engine note; it should rise smoothly and steadily. Try to achieve the same exit speed on multiple consecutive laps. This builds the muscle memory for a clean, powerful launch onto the straight.
• Vision Training (‘Look-Up’ Technique): Consciously force your eyes to look far ahead through the corner. Pick your exit point (the point on the track where you want the car to be pointing) and keep your eyes fixed on it from the moment you turn in. Your hands will subconsciously steer the car toward where you are looking. Start with slow laps and focus only on this visual habit. It will dramatically improve your turn-in point and cornering line.

• Braking Point Consistency Drill: Choose a fixed reference point on track (a brake marker, a crack in the pavement, a specific tree). Your goal is to hit the brakes at that exact point on every single lap. Use a datalogger or have an instructor watch. Start slowly and prioritize consistency over speed. Once you can hit the point reliably 10 times in a row, begin to move the point slightly later down the straight.
• Throttle Control Exercise: On a long, sweeping corner exit, focus entirely on the smoothness of your throttle application. Aim to apply power in a perfectly linear fashion, without any sudden surges that cause wheelspin. Listen to the engine note; it should rise smoothly and steadily. Try to achieve the same exit speed on multiple consecutive laps. This builds the muscle memory for a clean, powerful launch onto the straight.
• Vision Training (‘Look-Up’ Technique): Consciously force your eyes to look far ahead through the corner. Pick your exit point (the point on the track where you want the car to be pointing) and keep your eyes fixed on it from the moment you turn in. Your hands will subconsciously steer the car toward where you are looking. Start with slow laps and focus only on this visual habit. It will dramatically improve your turn-in point and cornering line.

The key to these drills is isolation and measurement. Work on one skill at a time.

Use lap times, data logs, or instructor feedback to measure improvement. The goal is to turn conscious effort into unconscious competence.

The most surprising insight from professional coaching is that cornering mastery has little to do with raw courage or aggression. It is the precise, repeatable integration of braking, apex, steering, and exit—each component executed with finesse and backed by objective data. A smooth, early throttle application on exit often gains more time than a later, riskier braking point.

Sarah Moore’s methodology proves that the fastest line is often the most controlled one. For your next track session, focus solely on one element: smooth steering inputs. Record your lap times and your exit speeds.

You will likely find that by unsettling the car less, you carry more momentum and achieve a faster overall lap, all without pushing any harder. This is the data-driven path to improvement.